Click on the play button to listen to report.

With today’s Fruit Grower Report, I’m Bob Larson. We were talking yesterday about the holiday giving campaign that Wenatchee’s Stemilt growers have been involved with for the past five years. That’s where employees join together to brighten the holidays for foster children by making sure there’s a little something for them under the tree Christmas morning.

Stemilt communications manager Brianna Shales says the folks in Chelan and Douglas counties have been big supporters of theirs over the years so it feels good when they can find a meaningful way to give back …

BRIANNA SHALES … “Certainly, we’re a big supporter of community events and also, you know, really try to support things that are, that surround education, and nutrition, and sports and activities, and obviously the youth, I think that’s really important. But, we’re a big employer in the valley and so it’s important for us to be able to contribute to various community events throughout the year.”

Shales says giving back isn’t just limited to the holidays …

BRIANNA SHALES … “A lot of the things that we do are all throughout the year, so there’s a lot of different programs that happen annually. So, it’s not necessarily in December, but it’s happening where we sponsor things and it happens all throughout the year.”

Organized by Stemilt’s Community Investment Committee, foster children under the care of either Washington State’s Division of Child & Family Services in Wenatchee or the Community Resource Group of Wenatchee/Yakima woke up to gifts on Christmas morning.

Stemilt president West Mathison says “it’s an honor to work alongside so many caring people.”